The Matchups Bratke Hopes Go Down In Fort Worth
The Matchups Bratke Hopes Go Down In Fort Worth
Check out the men's freestyle matches Bratke hopes go down at the U.S. Senior Nationals - Olympic Trials qualifier this weekend.
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There obviously won't be any bad matchups this weekend in Fort Worth at the U.S. Senior Nationals - Olympic Trials Qualifier, but there a few at each weight that I've got my finger crossed hoping they go down. Let me know which showdowns you hope go down this weekend.
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Friday-Sunday, December 20-22 | 9:00 AM ET
57kg
Spencer Lee vs Nick Suriano
We've seen it three times in folkstyle, twice in the Super 32 finals and once in the NCAA finals, but never in freestyle. When Lee steps on the mat in Fort Worth, it will be the first time he's wrestled a freestyle match since 2016. Suriano made his return to freestyle when he wrestled Joe Colon at Beat The Streets. Before that, Suriano hadn't wrestled a freestyle match since 2014. However, the Rutgers NCAA champion just had a great showing at the Bill Farrell Memorial International where he finished third beating NCAA champion Nahshon Garrett and All-Americans Eddie Klimara, Zach Sanders, and Zane Richards.
Nick Suriano vs Nathan Tomasello
A match we've never seen. During Nick Suriano's true freshman season at Penn State, Tomasello was up at 133. In 2018 when they were both at 125, Tomasello missed the dual with Rutgers, Suriano defaulted out of the Big Ten Championships after just a match, and at the NCAA Championships Spencer Lee took out Tomasello in the semifinals before the Buckeye could get to Suriano in the finals. If these two finally meet in Fort Worth, expect a low-scoring physical match.
Spencer Lee vs Nahshon Garrett
Two NCAA champions and two offensive dynamos in different ways. Nahshon Garrett likes to work from space is known for putting on takedown clinics. Spencer Lee prefers to work from ties, but is extremely hard to score on as he scrambles with the best of them and has a word-class leg lace. Garrett has also struggled with Hawkeyes in the past losing to Thomas Gilman and Tony Ramos multiple times each.
65kg
Yianni Diakomihalis vs Jordan Oliver
After training together at Cornell, the NCAA champions met in a real match in this April's U.S. Open semifinals. The match was knotted at four heading into the break, but the second period belonged to Yianni as the young star went on a 12-1 run to score a 16-5 tech fall.
Jordan Oliver vs Frank Molinaro
Another matchup of NCAA champions. Of the four freestyle matches where they've met since 2015, Oliver holds a 3-1 series advantage. However, every match has been decided by two points or less including two criteria wins for Oliver. The two are not big fans of one another either, as they exchanged words after last month's Bill Farrell International final.
Joey McKenna vs Nick Lee
A year ago this was a key matchup in the Ohio State-Penn State dual and the two were NCAA title contenders at 141. Now, they could potentially be squaring off for a spot at the Olympic Trials. Joey McKenna does lead the series 3-1, but every single match in the series has been decided by one point and Lee's pace in freestyle could pose a problem for the former Buckeye.
Dom Demas vs Jayson Ness
Want to see a crazy exciting pin? This match is for you, then.
74kg
Mekhi Lewis vs Chance Marsteller
Two years ago at the Southern Scuffle, a redshirting Mekhi Lewis twice gave Chance Marsteller all he could handle. Each match was decided by just two points and those losses to the Lock Haven All-American proved to be the only of Lewis' redshirt season. The young Hokie went on to win a Junior World title and followed that up with an NCAA title in March. Can Lewis get revenge on the Pennsylvania legend?
Chance Marsteller vs Tommy Gantt
Earlier this week we released a walk and talk our own Mark Bader did with Chance Marsteller where the two-time All-American openly discussed his wild college career. One of the stories he told was of his redshirt freshman year when Tommy Gantt put up 18 points on him on his way to a major decision. Marsteller has clearly not forgotten about that match and I'm sure would like to return the favor. The two have met one other time back in 2016 at University Nationals where Marsteller was a winner on criteria.
Mekhi Lewis vs Anthony Valencia
The man who is nearly impossible to take down vs the man who invents ways to take people down regularly. From his baseball slide single-leg, extremely powerful blast double, and ability to jump over opponents you never know what Anthony Valencia will do when he steps on the mat. Mekhi Lewis stifled the entire 165-pound weight class and 2018 Junior World Championship field with his incredible defense. Can he withstand the creative Valencia?
86kg
Alex Dieringer vs Zahid Valencia
My friend The Wrestling Nomad called this the weirdest rivalry in wrestling and I have to agree with him. In the summer of 2018, Zahid Valencia blew through Alex Dieringer to punch his ticket to Final X. In the summer of 2019, Dieringer returned the favor and dominated Valencia to earn his shot at Final X. Will we finally get a close match in this series?
Sammy Brooks vs Aaron Brooks
Brooks on Brooks crime. A potential quarterfinal showdown, we will learn a lot about where the younger Brooks stands in the Senior level pecking order in this one. Aaron Brooks does have a Senior level tournament win after he knocked off Nate Jackson in the Dave Schultz finals back in January.
97kg
Kyven Gadson vs Kollin Moore
The past three years, Kyven Gadson has been the final domestic hurdle for Kyle Snyder to clear before making the world team. Can Kollin Moore emerge announce his presence on the Senior level and challenge his former teammate at Ohio State, Snyder?
Derek White vs Ty Walz
Two of the more athletic and active NCAA heavyweights we've seen in recent years have now both slimmed down and will look to take the next step and try to take another step towards Kyle Snyder.
125kg
Anthony Cassar vs Greg Kerkvliet
The current Penn State heavyweight vs the future Penn State heavyweight. Does the Cadet world champion and silver medalist have anything for the defending NCAA champion?
Tony Nelson vs Anthony Cassar
In case you have never noticed before, Tony Nelson is a very large man. Anthony Cassar is a very big man, but just two years ago was wrestling 197. Can Cassar find a way to open up Nelson and his stingy defense?